The Ants of Africa Genus Crematogaster - Subgenus Decacrema
Genus Crematogaster Introduction

Subgenus Decacrema Forel (1910f: 9)

Diagnostic Features - The only subgenus with 10-segmented antennae. Forel's (1910f) subgenus definition is at .

These can be divided into two distinct species groups.
1. The hova-group of relatively large, TL at least 3.0 mm, sculptured dark species. The Madagascar species Crematogaster (Decacrema) hova Forel (1887: 387) can be seen at http://www.antweb.org/description.do?rank=species&genus=crematogaster&name=hova&project=.
2. The solenopsides-group of small, TL no more than 2.0 mm, almost unsculptured, smooth, shiny, essentially pale species.

Key to species - workers

1	Antenna with scapes reaching the occiput, funiculus with a 3-segmented club; head and alitrunk with distinct sculpturation giving those parts a semi-matt appearance; base colour dark-brown to black; TL at least 3.0 mm	2
--	Antennal scapes reaching no more than the 3/4 point of the head, club 2-segmented; with reduced sculpturation, so generally smooth and shiny; base colour no more than yellow-brown; TL no more than 2.5 mm	3
2	TL 3.0-3.7 mm; antenna with scapes reaching the occiput, funiculus with a 3-segmented club; petiole without an anterior subventral tooth, only an obtuse protuberance; propodeal spines relatively long & sharp; head submatt and finely sculptured; alitrunk with quite strong sculpturation; black, appendages dark brown or blackish-brown	.
.		Southern Africa - liengmei
--	TL 3.8 mm; larger mesonotum and a deeper metanotal groove; propodeum with very small denticles; petiole with long thin anterior subventral tooth; probably dark brown, appendages dark yellowish-red [note no definitely a Decacrema]	Mozambique - arthurimuelleri
3	Propodeum without teeth; TL 2.0-2.5 mm; shiny, colour light rust-brown, antennae and legs yellowish,	Guinea - edentula
--	Propodeum with at least small denticles	4
4	Petiole with only a small anterior subventral tooth; TL only 1.9 mm; propodeal teeth triangular and flat; overall shiny; few erect hairs; bright brown, appendages more yellow	.
.		Sudan - lango
--	Petiole with a long anterior subventral tooth	5
5	TL 1.6-2.0 mm; head rectangular about one-fifth longer than wide; eyes small with no more than 12 facets; propodeal spines relatively large but triangular with a wide base, height equal to base; petiole square with teeth at each angle, the anterior pair small but the posterior pair very distinct; subpetiolar anterior tooth not mentioned; rust or reddish with head and gaster brown	.
.		West Africa & Congo Basin - petiolidens
--	TL 2.5 mm; head slightly longer than wide; eyes large, set at midpoint of head; alitrunk convex; no pubescence, very few erect hairs; shiny clear brown colour, anterior of head and gaster darker	Pan-African - solenopsides

MYRMICINAE Introduction

© 2007, 2008 - Brian Taylor CBiol FIBiol FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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